Written answers

Tuesday, 21 November 2017

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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480. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which Ireland compares with other EU countries in terms of meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets with specific reference to the extent to which each country currently contributes to such emissions; the extent of the sacrifices each has to make meeting the target reductions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49396/17]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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492. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the degree to which he expects to meet carbon and other emission requirements in the current year or thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49447/17]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 492 together.

The 2009 Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC established binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for EU Member States for the period 2013 to 2020. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their level in 2005. This will be Ireland’s contribution to the overall EU objective to reduce its emissions by the order of 20% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. Ireland’s target is jointly the most demanding 2020 reduction target allocated to EU Member States under this Decision, which is shared only with Denmark and Luxembourg. 

The Environmental Protection Agency produces detailed greenhouse gas emission projections on an annual basis for all key sectors of the economy in collaboration with relevant State and other bodies. The latest projections of greenhouse gas emissions by the EPA, published in April 2017, indicate that emissions from those sectors of the economy covered by Ireland's 2020 targets could be between 4% and 6% below 2005 levels by 2020. The projected shortfall to our targets in 2020 reflects both the constrained investment capacity over the past decade due to the economic crisis, and the extremely challenging nature of the target itself. In fact, it is now accepted that Ireland’s 2020 target was not consistent with what would be achievable on an EU wide cost-effective basis.

The legislative framework governing the EU’s 2020 emissions reductions targets includes a number of flexibility mechanisms to enable Member States to meet their annual emissions targets, including provisions to bank any excess allowances to future years and to trade allowances between Member States. Using banked allowances from the period to 2015, Ireland is projected to comply with its emissions reduction targets in each of the years 2013 to 2018. However, our cumulative emissions are expected to exceed targets for 2019 and 2020, which may result in a requirement to purchase additional allowances. While this purchasing requirement is not, at this stage, expected to be significant, further analysis will be required to quantify the likely costs involved, in light of the final amount and price of allowances required.

With regards to other Member States, a European Commission Communication published on 7 November 2017, Two years after Paris – Progress towards meeting the EU’s climate commitments (COM (2017) 646), indicated that in addition to Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg and Malta are also expected to miss their 2020 EU targets on the basis of current projections. 

The European Environment Agency (EEA) report, Trends and projections in Europe 2017, published on 7 November 2017, provides an updated assessment of the progress of the European Union and its Member States towards their 2020 targets based on the latest available official projections at Member State level. This gives a detailed analysis of the position of each Member State relative to their respective targets and the extent to which each country currently contributes to total EU emissions. The report also includes analysis of progress towards EU and Member States’ renewable energy and energy efficiency targets. The report confirms that while the seven Member States referred to above are expected to miss their targets, the European Union as a whole is well on track to meet its 2020 obligations.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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481. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he continues to put in place provisions to meet greenhouse gas reductions in line with agreements entered into; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49397/17]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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488. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his vision for the attainment of the various targets in respect of climate change such as reduction on dependency on fossil fuels, carbon reduction, encouragement of the alternative energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49443/17]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 488 together.  

The 2014 National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development sets out an ambitious long-term commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland by at least 80% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050 across the electricity generation, built environment and transport sectors; and in parallel, to pursue an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production.

Ireland’s first statutory National Mitigation Plan, which I published in July of this year, represents an important initial step to set us on a pathway to achieve these commitments by 2050. A key objective of the Plan is also to close the gap to Ireland's 2020 EU target and to prepare for the EU targets that Ireland will take on for 2030.

Although the Plan does not provide a complete roadmap to achieve either Ireland’s proposed 2030 target or the 2050 transition objective, the Plan identifies over 70 mitigation measures and 106 related actions to address the immediate challenge to 2020 and begins the process of developing medium-to-long-term policy options to ensure that we are well positioned to take the necessary actions in the next and future decades.

Importantly, the National Mitigation Plan is a living document that will be updated as on-going analysis, dialogue and technological innovation generate more and more cost-effective sectoral mitigation options. This continuous review process reflects the broad and evolving nature of the sectoral challenges outlined in the Plan, coupled with the continued development and deployment of emerging low carbon and cost effective technologies across different sectors of the economy. As this first Plan moves through the implementation phase, this process will enable it to be amended, refined and strengthened over time and assist in keeping Ireland on target to meet our obligations.

Ireland currently relies on imported fossil fuels to meet over 88% of our energy needs at an annual cost of approximately €4.6 billion. Given the inextricable link between energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, achievement of the commitments set out in the National Policy Position will require a significant transformation of Ireland’s energy system from being predominantly fossil-fuel based to a clean, low carbon energy system.

To support this ambition the Government has a range of policy measures and schemes in place or under development. These include the Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff schemes, the Biofuels Obligation Scheme, a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, and a Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme.  Together with a range of energy efficiency measures implemented through schemes managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, these measures reflect the on-going Government commitment to, and investment in, decarbonisation of Ireland's energy system.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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482. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which the domestic motor sector, agricultural sector, public transport and private commercial transport contribute to the totality of greenhouse gas emissions here; the degree to which conversion to electric motor vehicles can contribute to an overall reduction in both the domestic and transport sector; the extent to which the emissions from the agrifood sector can be curtailed without damaging the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49398/17]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Official inventories of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions are prepared annually by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The most recent data, for the year 2015, were published on 13 April 2017 and are available on the EPA's website at . According to this data, the breakdown of emissions by sector in 2015 is as follows:

SectorMt CO2eq.% of total 2015 emissions
Agriculture19.8133.1%
Transport11.8319.8%
Energy Industries11.8019.8%
Residential6.0410.1%
Manufacturing Combustion4.557.6%
Industrial Processes1.99 3.3%
F-Gases1.14 1.9%
Commercial Services0.94 1.6%
Waste0.971.6%
Public Services0.811.3%
Total ETS16.8428%
Total Non-ETS43.0472%
Total for all sectors59.88100%

Ireland’s transport sector has been the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions over the period 1990 to 2015. The transport share of overall national emissions has increased from 9% in 1990 to almost 20% in 2015, and transport emissions are expected to increase in the coming years as the economy continues to grow strongly. EPA inventory data for the transport sector distinguishes between road transport, railways, and domestic navigation and aviation. Emissions from the agriculture sector reached an absolute peak in 1998 and, by 2015, were 5.5% below their 1990 levels, albeit on a rising trend since 2012.

The 2014 National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development sets out an ambitious long-term commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland by at least 80% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050 across the electricity generation, built environment and transport sectors; and in parallel, to pursue an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production.

Ireland's first statutory National Mitigation Plan, which I published in July of this year, provides a framework to guide investment decisions by Government in domestic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Plan sets out Ireland’s vision for achieving the transition to a decarbonised economy, identifying over 70 mitigation measures and 106 related actions across different sectors of the economy. 

The National Mitigation Plan outlines a number of measures that are already contributing to emission reductions in the transport sector, including: sustained investment in the public transport network; the introduction of a Biofuels Obligation Scheme; regulations limiting tail pipe emissions in cars; incentives to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles; and redesigning the Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and motor tax regimes to promote low carbon emitting vehicles.

In relation to electric vehicles, in May of this year the Government approved and published the National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland 2017 to 2030.  This policy framework sets an ambitious target that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero emissions (or zero emissions capable). The Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce, which is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is considering a range of measures and options available to Government to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles.  The work of the Taskforce is well underway and has already resulted in a package of measures in Budget 2018 designed to promote a low carbon, electric vehicle future. 

The National Mitigation Plan also presents options for a range of additional measures which will further intensify efforts to mitigate emissions from the transport sector. These include:

- the implementation of the National Planning Framework (currently being finalised by Government), which aims to ensure better integration of land use and transport planning policy in order to reduce commuter travel demand and support more efficient patterns of development and travel;

- increasing public transport capacity and securing a shift, where feasible alternatives exist, away from private car use;

- encouraging the take-up of alternative fuels to petrol and diesel; and

- increasing the obligation under the Biofuels Obligation Scheme to further reduce the concentration of high-emitting fuels.

The long-term vision for the agriculture, forest and land-use sectors is based on an approach to carbon neutrality.

It should be noted that the agri-food sector is Ireland’s largest indigenous manufacturing industry, with total agri-food employment, including on-farm employment in primary agriculture, forestry and fishing, as well as the food processing industry, accounting for over 165,700 jobs. The most recent data available shows the agri-food sector accounting for 7.6% of Gross Value Added (2014), 23% of all manufacturing turnover (2014), 8.4% of employment (2015) and 10.7% of merchandise exports (2015). Current analysis suggests that the emissions intensity per kcal of food output in 2013 is reduced approximately 14% relative to 2005 and early estimates project that the "business as usual" scenario 2030 emission intensity will be a quarter below the emission intensity in 2005. Further, early estimates of agriculture with additional measures is approximately 35% below 2005, although absolute emissions remain reasonably stable.

The National Mitigation Plan highlights a number of measures that are already contributing to emission reductions in the sector, including: the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP); Knowledge Transfer Programme; Green, Low Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS); Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II); Organic Farming Scheme; Smart Farming Programme; Business, Environment and Technology through Training Extension and Research (BETTER) Farms Programme.

Importantly, the National Mitigation Plan is a living document that will be updated as on-going analysis, dialogue and technological innovation generate more and more cost-effective sectoral mitigation options. This continuous review process reflects the broad and evolving nature of the sectoral challenges outlined in the Plan, coupled with the continued development and deployment of emerging low carbon and cost effective technologies across different sectors of the economy. As this first Plan moves through the implementation phase, this process will enable it to be amended, refined and strengthened over time and assist in keeping Ireland on target to meet our obligations.

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